Abstract
Engaging in cognitively stimulating activities such as playing video games consistently over a sustained period of time may confer cognitive benefits. However, it is not currently understood if playing video games regularly over the lifespan may promote resiliency to cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In the present study, we investigated the association between the history of playing video games and neuropsychological performance in people with MS (PwMS). A total of 42 PwMS completed neuropsychological tests primarily from the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Functioning in MS (MACFIMS) battery. Study participants also estimated how many hours of video games they played per week over their adult life. Linear regression analyses indicated that greater estimated hours playing video games was significantly associated with better performance on an index of global cognitive performance, the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System Card Sorting test score, and the learning trials of the California Verbal Learning Test (second edition) and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (Revised). These relationships were significant while controlling for age, disease duration, and estimated premorbid IQ. Secondary analyses revealed that video game playing was also a better predictor of visuospatial learning, short-term memory, and executive functioning performance than other variables that have also previously been associated with the accumulation of cognitive reserve. The findings suggest that playing video games consistently through adulthood is associated with better cognitive outcomes in PwMS, particularly in the domains of new learning and executive functioning.